Mosquito Control
What We Do

ATTENTION BEEKEEPERS: If you have hives in Portsmouth, please contact Mosquito Control at 393-8666. Mosquito Control tracks local beekeepers to prevent adverse effects to bee hives. Please provide your name, address and a phone number where we can reach you.

Surveillance

Crews perform daily surveillance in which they search for potential mosquito breeding. They also pay close attention to changes in weather temperature and conditions. Keeping track of the amount of rain fall helps to predict the likelihood of mosquito emergence. This information helps mosquito control stay on the offensive in preventing production of adult mosquitoes in the city.

This is a dipper used to inspect for juvenile mosquitoes such as larvae and pupae. Dipping is an important part of surveillance to help identify areas of breeding.

Crew leader inspecting ditches to check for possible breeding.

Even catch basins can breed mosquitoes when they hold water. Inspecting all possible areas for breeding is critical in controlling populations.

Rain gauge used to measure weekly rain fall. One inch of rain in a week = mosquitoes the next week

It's the little spots of water that contribute the most problems in Mosquito Control. It's easy to blame it on a lake or large ditch, but the small, hidden areas are just as important. Always be vigilant and remove any source of standing water.

Juvenile mosquitoes are collected from various water sources such as natural bodies of water, puddles, ditches, retention pools, and artificial containers.

When mosquito breeding areas are identified, treating is our next step as part of our "seek and treat" motto. Staying proactive and using preventive measures is the most effective and cheapest way to control mosquitoes.

Trapping

In order to determine where mosquito problems are the largest, crews trap mosquitoes weekly using a variety of traps, including (from left to right):

CDC Light trap - This trap is used to catch active mosquitoes between dusk and dawn. Dry ice is used as an attractant for host-seeking mosquitoes as mosquitoes are drawn to CO2 output. This is our most used trap in checking mosquito activity.

Gravid Trap - This trap is used to catch gravid (or pregnant) female mosquitoes after they've had their blood meal. This trap simulates an environment that attracts mosquitoes that lay their eggs on the surface of the water.

Ovatrap (below) - Used to attract gravid female Asian tiger mosquitoes. The female lays her eggs on seed germination paper placed in the cup. Positive traps give us an idea of where Albopictus mosquitoes are in the city.